AUDIT DENOUNCES SCHOOLS' MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT

Confusion, mismanagement and intimidation persist inside the Broward County School District's maintenance department, according to an internal audit that accused the division's chief of "malfeasance."

The report released this week is the third annual audit to criticize the maintenance operation -- a far-flung division that costs $68 million a year to operate and performs about $44 million in repairs a year.

The most recent report focuses on small but expensive Somat motors in sophisticated garbage handling systems in 130 school cafeterias.

Record-keeping is so poor that the department could not track which motors were bought, where they were installed, whether they were installed or stolen, said Patrick Reilly, executive director of management/facility audits.

For instance, a motor was ordered for Silver Ridge Elementary but was never installed because it was stored in the wrong place. Months later, when the motor was found, it was installed at Davie Elementary.

Some employees have contended that when they objected to practices such as the stockpiling, their supervisors threatened them.

The audit states that "the lack of effort by the Director of Maintenance and staff in investigating Somat motor purchasing allegations indicates malfeasance and fosters the current improper behavior."

Department head Sylvester Davis could not be reached for comment.

But John Quercia, the associate superintendent for support services who requested the audit, supported most of the findings, noting only that part of the problem in tracking the motors was a lack of serial numbers provided by the parts supplier.

Quercia wrote that he felt "strongly that acts of intimidation and retaliation have no place in our organization" and that he called a staff meeting when he heard the allegations to reinforce "these tactics will not be tolerated."

The maintenance department has been under attack for almost a decade. In April 2001, the State Attorney's Office began a continuing long-term inquiry when a maintenance supervisor alleged waste, mismanagement, fraud and kickbacks. The allegations said the maintenance department:

Knowingly spent almost twice as much money to repair portable classrooms as it would have cost to buy new ones.

Spent money to repair aging portables that are being phased out under state law.

Allowed maintenance contractors to decide how much work needed to be done at schools, without oversight from any district official.

In November 2001, that investigation resulted in criminal charges that a tile firm billed the district for installing almost 360,000 square feet of tile that wasn't laid at about 50 schools.

Bill Hirschman can be reached at bhirschman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4513.